“Dr. Reich,” Blayne said. “Do you need anything? Coffee? Something to eat?”
“Coffee would be great,” she said, almost absently.
Blayne nodded toward the door, and Ethan followed him into the hall. Kira was right on their heels.
“I’m going to stay with Madeline,” Kira said. “I think she needs Jamie’s lawyer right now.” Blayne noticed Kira’s jaw set, and her face hardened, masking her emotions. She spun around, walked back into the waiting room.
“That poor woman,” Ethan said, “What kind of monster would do this?”
“Sadly, there are many of them in this world. In fact, I think I may know who did this.” Blayne filled Ethan in about the harassment Jamie faced at school.
“So, that’s why Kira has turned into lawyer-zilla?”
“You saw it too?” Blayne asked.
“Yeah, it was like a switch turned on, and all her pleasantness disappeared. I’d hate to be on the other end of her in a case.”
Ethan
Ethan followed Blayne as he walked through the maze of corridors making up the hospital interior.Thank God he knows where he’s going. They’d have to send out a search party to find me.After a few more twists, turns and an elevator ride, they were in the hospital cafeteria. The line was short, so they moved through it quickly. They picked up four large coffees, a small milk and some packets of sugar, in case someone wanted to doctor their brew. Blayne also grabbed a tuna sandwich from the display. He made some comment about not letting Madeline off the hook when it came to eating.
“She’s going to need her strength for this,” Blayne said.
Ethan watched the look of dismay and despair cross Blayne’s face. Blayne’s body had lost the vigor and energy Ethan was already becoming used to seeing in the man beside him. Ethan threw his arm around Blayne’s waist without even thinking as they walked back to the ED waiting room. He felt Blayne lean into him as they walked. Blayne didn’t need Ethan to help him walk, but Ethan didn’t mind being there to support his friend.
They walked into the room. Kira looked up from where she was sitting, holding Madeline, who was once again crying.
“Here’s your coffee,” Blayne started. “I wasn’t sure what you’d want in it, so I got milk and some sugar packets, just in case. And I know you said you weren’t hungry, but I got you a tuna sandwich. You’ll need to eat at some point, so at least you’ll have something.” Blayne placed the milk carton on the chair next to Madeline and emptied his pockets of the packets. Madeline glanced up at Blayne, giving him a weak smile.
“Madeline,” a male’s voice came from the doorway. “Oh, hey, Ethan, Kira and someone I don’t know,” the middle-aged man said as he walked into the waiting room.
“Hey, Arnold,” Ethan said to the surgeon. “How’s he doing?”
Dr. Giest-Mueler looked to Madeline for permission to say anything. She nodded, so he went on. “Things are about as good as we could have hoped for. The plastic surgeon is still working on a couple of facial lacerations, but he thinks there will be minimal scarring.”
“Maybe not externally,” Kira said under her breath.
Dr. Giest-Mueler clearly heard Kira, but he continued without responding, “Jamie’s arm was set. The orthopedic surgeon had to insert two pins and a plate. He will be in a cast for about four to six weeks, depending on how things heal.” The surgeon took a breath. The look that washed over the surgeon’s face told Ethan everything he needed to know. The surgeon was trying to figure out the most delicate way to put the next part. “Despite the bleeding, there was only minor damage internally,” Giest-Mueler said, drawing out the last word. “There was some ripping, and I cauterized those wounds to stop the bleeding. Neither the rectum nor colon were perforated, which is a minor miracle.”
“When can I see him?” Madeline asked, her quiet voice barely audible.
“The guy from plastics said he should be finished in about fifteen minutes, so we should have Jamie in the intensive care unit in about thirty minutes at the latest. I’ll take you back there now, Madeline, if you want.”
Saying nothing, she stood up, grabbed her coffee and the sandwich and followed the surgeon out of the room.
As soon as they were gone, Blayne sank into one chair. Ethan sat down next to him. “You, okay?”
“Definitely been better. I feel so powerless right now.”
“Not me,” Kira said. “I’m fucking pissed. I’m ready to rain down a fucking shitstorm on that asshat principal of his.”
“Whoa, back up,” Blayne said. “What happened while we were gone?”
“Let me show you.” She pulled out her cell phone and pulled up the video the detective had forwarded to her since she was Jamie’s lawyer. She hit play and handed her phone to Blayne, who watched in horror.
“They recorded it?” Blayne asked in horror as the images of Jamie’s assault played out.
“And posted it to social media,” Kira said, barely opening her clenched jaw. “That’s how the cops found the perpetrators. The smug, entitled little pricks streamed it while they were doing it.”
